The Utilization of the Family Zingiberaceae Based on Local Wisdom in Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai Province and its Micropropagation for Conservation

Abstract

In this study, the researchers survey the utilization of the family zingiberaceae based on local wisdom in Chiang Saen district, Chiang Rai province. The researchers also study the micropropagation of these medicinal plants for their conservation and sustainable utilization. The survey to collect data was conducted from February to April 2019 by interviewing well-informed local persons. The survey found that twenty-three species from six genera of Zingiberaceae plants were used. Curcuma was the most utilized genus (seven species) of medicinal plants, followed by Zingiber (six species). Rizome was the main plant part used in traditional medicine. Most of the utilization was for gastrointestinal disorder treatments for carminative, gastritis, flatulence, and others. For the micropropagation of Zingiberaceae plants, an initial study was conducted to find an appropriate method for surface sterilization. The researchers selected the two species of Zingiberaceae plants most utilized by local villagers: Wan Maha Sane (Curcuma sp.) and Nan Thao Wang Haeng (Kaempferia angustifolia). The bud explants of both species were surface-sterilized with different concentrations of the surface disinfectant, Haiter@ (6 percent w/w sodium hypochlorite) and for different time periods. Then, both species of bud explants were cultured on MS agar medium for eight weeks. The results showed that the best disinfection method for Curcuma sp. was a ten percent concentration of the Haiter solution for fifteen minutes which resulted in the highest survival rate of 86.0 percent. The surface disinfection of K. angustifolia using a ten percent concentration of the Haiter solution for ten minutes was the best method as it resulted in the highest survival rate of 63.4 percent.